Sketch of a Chalice 1845 - 1855

Alfred Henry Forrester sketched this chalice on paper, now held at the Metropolitan Museum. Notice how the composition, dominated by delicate pencil lines, captures the preliminary stages of design. Circular and vertical lines form a grid, suggesting a meticulous approach to proportion and symmetry. The sketch, though incomplete, reveals the chalice's ornate details: shields, decorative flourishes, and a figure atop the lid. Forrester’s use of line—varying in thickness and density—creates depth and texture, hinting at the materiality of the final piece. The incomplete rendering invites us to consider the relationship between sketch and finished work, idea and form. The chalice, a symbol of ritual and communion, is here deconstructed into its basic geometric components. This approach mirrors the broader intellectual currents of Forrester’s time, where traditional forms were re-evaluated through the lens of emerging scientific and philosophical thought. The sketch functions as a kind of visual analysis, reducing a complex object to its fundamental structure.